Heart surgery
Repairing a spindle--the heart of a machine tool--is more economical than buying new, but part manufacturers need to understand the process.
Product Category
ERP/MRP & Shop Management Software
Heidenhain Interactive Training
From HEIDENHAIN Corp. comes a new online interactive training tool for CNC instruction called HIT (HEIDENHAIN Interactive Training).
An eye for wear
A machine vision system for inspecting cutting tool wear.
Tool train
The heart of rail technology beats in Germany, where the Bombardier Transportation division of the Canadian conglomerate is headquartered in Berlin. Its plant in Netphen, Germany, annually produces 2,500 to 3,000 carriage bodies and bogies (a chassis or framework with wheels that is attached to a railway vehicle). This equipment is used in vehicles ranging from trams to high-speed trains. Despite the European economic crisis, order volumes have risen over the last few years, to the point where the plant, which has a workforce of 700, is nearly at full capacity.
New life for old iron
Retrofitting is an effective and economical option to make new money with old machine tools.
Viva vending
Vending machines can help manage tool and supply usage and keep costs in check.
Indispensable dispensing
END USER: Attica Hydraulic Exchange Inc., (586) 949-4240, www.atx1.com. CHALLENGE: Increase profitability by effectively managing tools and other industrial supplies. SOLUTION: A vending system. SOLUTION PROVIDER: MSC Industrial Supply Co., (800) 521-9520, www.mscdirect.com/vending
Demanding optical load
Look Ahead features an on-demand, integrated adaptive control
Distance learning
More shops and builders are remotely monitoring machine tools, which quickens maintenance and repair.
Changing tools to achieve tolerances
END USER: Richardson Manufacturing Co., (217) 546-2249, www.rmc-bigcnc.com. CHALLENGE: Achieve a tight tolerance without increasing cycle time. SOLUTION: A combination drill that eliminated an unreliable boring operation. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., (800) 321-5537, www.alliedmachine.com
Retrofit revitalization
END USER: Helac Corp., (800) 327-2589, www.helac.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance and programming time on a large vertical turning center. SOLUTION: Retrofit the VTC with a new CNC and AC digital-axis servodrives and servomotors. SOLUTION PROVIDER: MAG IAS LLC, (859) 534-4600, www.mag-ias.com
Working in a coal mine
END USER: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co., (513) 728-4040, www.cinmine.com. CHALLENGE: Improve throughput and maintain higher part-quality consistency. SOLUTION: A machining cell with 24 pallets and two horizontal machining centers. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Makino Inc., (513) 573-7200, www.makino.com